Transmission control mechanism



April 0, 1948. J. c. AUTEN TRANSMISSION CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed April 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J25 (i fizzie/z BY 0 MM irraxlvsrs.

April 20, 1948. J, c, ug-

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 4, 1945 1 s b a 6 2 7 4 v ii 6 w M T \F 4 sL y/ 5% Patented Apr. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MECHANISM Jay C. Auten, Royal Oak, Mich, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Micl1., a corporation of Delaware Original application April 4, 1945, Serial No.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to transmission control mechanism and refers more particularly to improvements in transmission remote shift mechanism especially adapted for mounting on motor I 2 Figmfi'is a viewgenerally similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modification of my shift control mechanism.

In the drawings I have illustratedmy invention vehicle steering posts. 6 in connection'withamotorvehicle comprising the This application is a division of my copending well known engine A, clutch B, and any type of application Serial No. 586,498 filed April l, 1945, transmission C which is adapted to :be manipunow Patent No. 2,432,711, issued December 16, lated at least in part by the vehicle driver. In 1947. general, my invention provides improvements in Itis an object of my invention to provide a con- 10 the transmission control mechanism illustrated trcl mechanism capable of bein manufactured in the atents to F. 'W. Slack No.*2,-291,-1-11 of at lower cost than devices of this general type July 28, 1-942, and 0. E.Fishburn No. 2,284,191of heretofore known. May 26, 1-942, and may be employed to advantage Another object is to provide an easily manufacin controlling the shift functions of various types tur d control which is less likely to rattle than of transmissions other than those illustrated in known devices and which will give better service these patents. and have longer life, also a control mechanism My control mechanism is especially adapted for having improved characteristics ,of thrust apmounting-on the conventional steering post l5 plication from the hand lever to the main steerbelow the steering wheel [:6, this steering post i post mounted selector operating control rod, having its axis inclined forwardly and down- A further object is to provide rocker elements wardly from-the steering wheel. .A main control Which may be manufactured separately from the rod D extends longitudinally adjacent the .post .15 shift lever and assembled therein. and is adapted to select and operate the trans- Another object is to provide a control provided mission control elements for forward and reverse with rocker portions therein which are more subspeed ratio drives as in the transmissions of the vstantial than 'known devices. The shift lever deaforesaid patents, for example. When rod?!) is vice .describedherein is adapted to be substanadjusted from a neutral position in the direction tially fabricated from metal stampings, but the of its axis, such motion is transmitted through rocker cams are made of more substantial conany suitable operating connection, such as struction. through the Bowden wire H, to the transmission Further objects and advantages of my invenselector lever 18. When rod D is rotated about tion reside in the combination and arrangement its axis such motion is transmitted through any of parts hereinafter described and claimed, refersuitable operating connection, such as through entebeine h d to the a mp nying drawings in the link and lever system 19, '20, -2;l,-to the transwhich: mission lever 22 thereby to operate the transmis- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a typical sion speed ratio-controlzelement which has been power plant and. steering wheel installation for a selected by longitudinal m e f d 3'- motor vehicle showing my invention applied Plo'd D may be suitably guided adjacent its r o; lower end to accommodate its rotary and lo i- Fig. 2 'isa plan view of thesteering wheel and 40 tudinal movements as in theyielding bushing 23 driver operable shift lever as viewed by the ve- (Fig. 6) carried by bracket 2t rigidly mounted on hicle driver; post i5. Rod D may be assembled downwardly :Fig. 3 is .a sectional elevational view through in its bushing mountings, a lever .25 being :therethe shift lever and connection to the steering after fixed to the-rod forroperating link 19. AdpQS mo d Q L jacent its-upper end rodD is guided ,by abushing Fig. ,4 is a detailsectional plan view taken as 25 which is fixed in a bracket 2' which "in turn y nel OfFig. 3; is fixed to post I5. In Fig. a the bushingifli zhas Fig. 5 is alsectional elevational view taken as a press fit in bracket :21, this bushing having indicated by lined-'5 of Fig. 3; an annular flange 28 at its upper endresting on :Fig. Gis an enlarged elevational viewillustratthe upper face of the bracket. As will presently ing the biasing means for the shift mechanism as be apparent, the bushing 25 serves asaa fixed fulviewed in Fig. 1 crum support for the shift lever on :the post :15. Fi 7 is a side elevational view of the Fig. "6 At its upper end rod D is formed with a flatvstructuretaken as indicated by line-'l-1 ofEigG; tened laterally elongated lever-forming head nd portion Ea-slotted at '30 :to receive azleveroperating and guide means. A shift lever E comprises a hollow steel stamping terminating outwardly in a handle or knob 34 adapted to be grasped by the driver in manipulating lever E. Lever E carries fulcruming lever rockers 38. These rockers 38 are formed on elements 15 secured as by welding to the inner faces of side walls 35, the upper ends of these elements serving as spacers to receive the relatively narrow head 28 therebetween and prevent undesired lateral movement of the lever relative to rod D. The rockers 38 of elements '15 are arced on radius R about centering axis 48. Lever E swings upwardly about axis 48 and laterally about axis X-X.

Some of the features of the device illustratedin Fig. 3 are described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 586,498.

The lever side walls are skirted downwardly at 18 as is also the end wall at 11 to partially enclose the bushing 26 and flange 28 thus keeping dirt away from these parts, protecting the operating parts from accidental contact by the operator who may otherwise be injured, and to generally enhance the appearance of the control.

I have provided means supported between the depending side walls of lever E and cooperating with the slotted formation of the lever head 29 for effecting lift of the rod D in response to lift of lever handle 34 and also for maintaining lever E positioned against undesired displacement in the direction of its length transversely to the axis X--X, this means cooperating with the rockers 38 and fulcrum bushing 26 to guide up and down shifting movements of lever E. In Fig. 8 this means comprises a plate 39 extending between the rockers 38 by fasteners 42 and 43.

Plate 39 extends through slot 38 which is generally triangular in shape having its apex of cylindrical contour at 44 centered about an axis 45 to rotatably fit the cylindrical end 46 of plate 39. The other end of the plate is likewise cylin- .drically formed at 41 about an axis 48 for engagement with the base 48 of the slot 38, this being of arcuate formation centered on axis 45.

In the Fig. 3 position of the parts with the lever E in its lowermost neutral position the upper face of plate 39 engages the upper wall or side of the triangular slot 30 and when the lever is fully swingingly raised then the lower face of plate 39 engages the lower wall or side of slot 38, the plane containing the parallel axes 45 and 48 thus sweeping through an angle approximately bisected by a plane normal to axis X-X and containing axis 48. Thus, by preference, the plate 39 is initially downwardly and outwardly inclined so that in lifting lever E the axis 45 moves substantially vertically in applying its lift to rod D with a minimum of side thrust on the rod D. However, if desired, the plate 39 may have an initial position horizontally or at some other inclination.

The rockers 38 are preferably of arcuate for-.

mation on a radius R about the axis 48 and this axis preferably intersects axis X-X or lies closely adjacent thereto in order to cause lever E to swing vertically about the axis of rod D without undue side thrust thereon and in order to maintain a fixed distance R between the lever axis 48 and the fulcrum surface at 28. With such an arrangement the axis 48 neither rises nor falls for vertical shifts of lever E and, therefore, neither gains nor loses effective lift on the rod D. Of course by curving rockers 38 about an axis either above'or below that illustrated at 48, the effective lift of lever E will be either supplemented by increased lift or decreased lift as the 14 case may be. Furthermore, rockers 38 could be of non-uniform curvature for camming lift if desired.

During upward swing of lever E, the lever axis of rotation 48 has an imperceptible displacement laterally of axis X-X as the plate 39 moves perpendicular to axis XX and the lever is free to so move by slight slip at the fulcrum support 23 as will presently be apparent.

In order to minimize friction between the fixed fulcrum bushing 26' and the lever rockers 38 -slidably seated thereon and to provide for an easy noiseless shift of lever E both vertically and horizontally or laterally, I preferably form the bushing, or its lever supporting face, of some metal composition different from that of the lever flanges. Thus in Fig. 3 the bushing 26 is formed by molding and sintering powdered metal or metals of different melting points in a manner now well known in forming porous metal bearings of the self-lubricating type as, by way of example, set forth in patent to C. A. Tea 1,927,619 of September 19, 1933, and to W. G. Calkins et al. 1,927,627 of September 19, 1933. Lubricant may be provided in the form of graphite included in the metal mixture supplemented by or substituted by fluid lubricant absorbed by immersing the bushing in lubricating oil then to be exuded to the fulcrum surface of bushing flange 28. Reference may be made to my copending application Serial No. 649,197, new Patent No. 2,436,186, issued February 17, 1948, which describes and claims this feature.

Following present known arrangements in remote gearshift mechanisms in general use, rod D is preferably biased downwardly at some convenient point ,or points in the connections of the operating system, usually within the transmission C. This serves to maintain lever E in its Fig. 3 neutral downwardly swung position known as the high speed range ready to be rotated forwardly about axis X-X to the position E in Fig. 2 for forward transmission drive setting or rearward to E" for forward drive in high. Lever E is lifted in neutral and then moved forward about axis XX for reverse, or rearward for forward drive in low, this latter position being omitted in somewell-known shift arrangements especially where the manual shifts are supplemented by automatic shift functions in the transmission.

Because of the inclination of post 15 and rod D, and the mass of lever E, the lever when in the forward position E has a tendency to work back to neutral especially when driving the car over rough roads. In order to offset this tendency and to also bias the lever E downwardly, I have provided a coil spring 50 (Figs. 6 and 7) having its upper end secured at 5| to rod D. The lower end of this spring is secured at 52 to bracket 24 and is displaced rotatably about axis XX relative to the end at 5| in a direction tending to bias lever E forwardly from its neutral position, the displacement being such that with the lever shifted to the position E the spring 58 will act to counterbalance and offset the tendency of the lever to jiggle out of the position E. At the same time spring 59 exerts a constant downward pull on rod D so thatlever E is maintained seated on bushing 26 and to maintain an anti-rattle connection between rod D and lever E. This spring device has been described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 649,194.

With lever E in its Fig. 3 neutral position, rod D is biased downward causing head 29 to seat on the upper face of plate 39 thereby forcing the operating pin 63 anchored across the: lever: de walls. The slot 6-2-is verticallyi elongated i701 slidably receive a second similar pin fidl-which-serves to hold the lever E-lwin-position lengthwise 55 lever E to :seat at its=rockers-38-on the bushing flange -2 8: stationarilyamounted -on -.thepost .45.

Rotation :oflever E- either foreor .afti willecause the leverzandrrodDto rotateas asunitabout axis XX,. head 29 fitting -rthe= rocker elements T15 affixed to the side wallsof leveroE. During this .movement rockers 38 rotatably slidablybear on the bushing flange- 28. .-'I'he,.-lubr-icant-= content of the bushing -26-insuresthe desired freedommf sliding contact at rockers 38 free: from noise and "undue wear.

When leverE is lifted from the Fig. 3. neutral position, preparatory for airotationa-l shiftin the raised position,: rockers 38- wipe across flange- 28 at the bushing: contact substantiallyin a :plane transversely to'tthea shift leversthrough axis X-a-X or closely adjacent thereto as :in Fig. 3 while the 'plate portion at 46-1ifts'thehead29. -Duringrthis lift, the lever E'rotates about: axis-..48 inaproviding a-mechanical uadvantage for zlif-tin rod D in. the ratio of the effective: lengths :of lever E.-.and plate 3i]v from axis X--X. After the-lever -has been-lifted thenit is 'swung about. axis. The: wiping and rotating -movements of rockers 38 .onflange 28 brings into action at different .timesithez-vari- 'Rod D now has an enlarged leverhead-ZBG slotted at El, -62. The slot -61 -,opens*outwardlyat; the lever portion of head.-2-9' and sl-idablp receives. the

thereof and at the: same time allows" the. .headwail to be displaced upwardly within'the lever E.---l when the latter isdifted 'to'i'effecti'the selecting axial shift of rod DSfiWhenilever E-l:.is: lifted for the cross-over ztransmfssion cselectionjlthe pin '63. liftsthe rod D at the slotted lever portion. of head 29'. When rod D is thus lifted about axis 60, it is rotated byswinging'lever Ei about axis-X-X.

In Fig. 8 the rockers 38 areazarried ri-gidly by the shift leverby reason of their being formed on the spacer members "15' welded to the lever side walls in a manner to members: !.5 of Fig. 3.

. I claim: 7

1. .In a steering column mounted control mechanism for selectively operating speed ratio controls of a motor vehicle transmission, a main rotatable and reciprocatory control rod having its axis extending generally longitudinally of the steering column and adapted for operative connection with the transmission, said rod having its upper end provided with a lever portion rigidly connected to said rod and offset laterally therefrom, a shift lever having an outer end portion adapted to be grasped by the vehicle driver and a hollow inner end portion within which said offset lever portion is disposed thereby housing said lever portion Within said hollow end portion and providing an operative connection between said shift lever and said offset lever portion such that rotary shifting movements of said shift lever about said rod axis cause said rod to rotate about said axis with said shift lever, said hollow end portion of the shift lever having an opening through which [said trod: extends, :means for mountings-aidrod onsaid steering column comprising a-cmembert-fixed:relative to the steering column-and having anannula-r fulcrum surface :surrounding said. rod adjacent said lever opening,

means connecting theiupperaendof said rod with .saidshift: lever for. transmitting vertical.swinging movements of said=shift lever to said rodso as to move saidrodinlthe directionfofitsaxis and .for. guiding-said shift leverfor rotational shift about said rod-axis during saidrotary shifting movements-of said shift lever, a. pair of spacers respectively-rigidly attached to the inner side walls of said shift. lever .forreceiving theofiset lever portion :ofsaid rod therebetween and. each spacenheing iprovided a lever-rfulcruming .rockerengaging said. annular surface, said-rockers extending. generally longitudinally of said shift lever along and adjacent opposite sides .ofsaid .rod .and each rocker having at least a portion thereof arced about an .axis extendingina di- .rection. transverse to said rod axis,,said mounting and connecting meanscooperating with said rockers such that when. said shift leveris rotatably :shiftedabout said rod axis the said rockers rotatably wipe said annular friction surface and such thatwhen said shift lever isswung vertically .upwai'dlysaidrockers 'slidably wipe, said annular frictionisurface and. fulcrum said shift lever for effctin'glift of Solid rbd.

2; In a-steering column mounted control mechanism for selectively operating speed ratio controls of a motor vehicle transmission, a main rotatable andreciprocatory controlrod having its axis extending. generally longitudinally of the steering column and adapted for operative connection with'the transmission, said rod having its upper end provided with a lever portion'rigidly connected tosaid rod and offsetlaterally therefrom, a shift lever having an outer end portion adaptedto be grasped by the vehicle driver and a hollow inner, end portion within which said offsetlever portion is disposed thereby housing said lever portion within said hollow end portion and providing anoperative connection between.saidshiftlever. andsaid .offset lever portion-such that rotary shifting movements of said shift lever'aboutl said rod axis cause said rod torotate aboutsaid axis with said shift lever, said hollow end portion of theshiftilever having an opening through which. said rod. extends,

meanslfor \mounting said rod -on said steering columncomprising amember fixed relative to the steering .columnandhaving an annular fulcrum surface surrounding said rod adjacentsaid lever opening, means connecting. the .upperae'ndiof said rod with said shift lever for transmitting vertical swinging movements of said shift lever to said rod so as to move said rod in the direction of its axis and for guiding said shift lever for rotational shift about said rod axis during said rotary shifting movements of said shift lever, a pair of spacers respectively rigidly attached to the inner side walls of said shift lever for receiving the offset lever portion of said rod therebetween and each spacer being provided with a lever-fulcruming rocker engaging said annular surface, said rockers extending generally longitudinally of said shift lever along and adjacent opposite sides of said rod and each rocker extending in a direction transverse to said rod axis, said mounting and connecting means cooperating with said rockers such that when said shift lever is rotatably shifted about said rod axis the said rockers rotatably wipe said annular friction surface and such that when said shift lever is swung vertically upwardly said rockers slidably wipe said annular friction surface and fulcrum said shift lever for effecting lift of said rod, the inner side walls of said shift lever extend downwardly below said rockers and said annular fulcrum surface.

3. In a steering column mounted control mechanism for selectively operating speed ratio controls of a motor vehicle transmission, a main rotatable and reciprocatory control rod having its axis extending generally longitudinally of the steering column and adapted for operative con nection with the transmission, said rod having its upper end provided with a lever portion rigidly connected to said rod and offset laterally therefrom, a shift lever having an outer end portion adapted to be grasped bythe vehicle driver and a hollow inner end portion within which said offset lever portion is disposed thereby housing said lever portion within said hollow end portion and providing an operative connection between said shift lever and said offset lever portion such that rotary shifting movements of said shift lever about said rod axis cause said rod to rotate about said axis with said shift lever, said hollow end portion of the shift lever having an opening through which :said rod extends, said rod lever portion having a generally triangularly shaped opening formed therein and so arranged that its base extends in the general direction of said rod axis and its apex lies adjacent the offset end of said rod lever portion, means carried by said shift lever and extending transversely of said hollow portion through said opening in engaging association with said base and apex portions of said opening for providing an operable connection between said rod and shift lever, a pair of spacers respectively rigidly attached to the inner side walls of said shift lever for receiving the offset lever portion of said rod therebetween and each spacer being provided with a lever-fulcruming rocker engaging said annular surface, said rockers extending generally longitudinally of said shift lever along and adjacent opposite sides of said rod and each rocker having at least a portion thereof arced about an axis extending in a direction transverse to said rod axis, said mounting and connecting means cooperating with said rockers such that when said shift lever is rotatably shifted about said rod axis the said rockers rotatably wipe said annular friction surface and such that when said shift lever is swung vertically upwardly said rockers slidably wipe said annular friction surface and fulcrum said shift lever for effecting lift of said rod.

4. In a steering column mounted control mech- 8 anism for selectively operating speed ratio controls of a motor vehicle transmission, a main rotatable and reciprocatory control rod having its axis extending generally longitudinally of the steering column and adapted for operative connection with the transmission, said rod having its upper end provided with a lever portion rigidly connected to said rod and offset laterally therefrom, a shift lever having an outer end portion adapted to be grasped by the vehicle driver and a hollow inner end portion within which said offset lever portion is disposed thereby housing said lever portion within said hollow end portion and providing an operative connection between said shift lever and said offset lever portion such that rotary shifting movements of said shift lever about said rod axis cause said rod to rotate about said axis with said shift lever, said hollow end portion of the shift lever having an opening through which said rod extends, said lever portion of said rod being slotted to provide pin-engaging walls carried by said lever portion, a pair of pins carried by said shift lever and extending transversely of said hollow portion in engagement with said walls of said lever portion of said rod for providing an operable connection between said rod and shift lever, a pair of spacers respectively rigidly attached to the inner side walls of said shift lever for receiving the offset lever portion of said rod therebetween and each spacer being provided with a lever-fulcruming rocker engaging said annular surface, said rockers extending generally longitudinally of said shift lever along and adjacent opposite sides of said rod and each rocker having at least a portion thereof arced about an axis extending in a direction transverse to said rod axis, said mounting and connecting means cooperating with said rockers such that when said shift lever is rotatably shifted about said rod axis the said rockers rotatably wipe said annular friction surface and such that when said shift lever is swung vertically upwardly said rockers slidably wipe said annular friction surface and fulcrum said shift lever for effecting lift of said rod.

JAY C. AUTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

